- Primary Subject: Crimson Desert (Launch Version)
- Key Update: Reviewers are currently restricted to the PC version as Pearl Abyss has withheld PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S access until launch.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 19, 2026
- Quick Answer: Console reviews of Crimson Desert are delayed as codes weren't provided pre-launch. We are refusing to rush a verdict, choosing instead to fully complete the story and stress-test PS5 performance to ensure a fair, rigorous review.
Crimson Desert is just hours away from its highly anticipated launch, with millions around the world expected to dive into the breathtaking continent of Pywel.
If you've been following the game with interest, then you would have probably seen that reviews of Crimson Desert are now live. However, at the time of writing, every single review online is based solely on the PC version.
Pearl Abyss, the game's developer and publisher, is not granting anyone access to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S versions of Crimson Desert until release on March 19. This means console-based reviews aren't currently available.
That's why there won't be a review from us anytime soon, but if we're being honest, this is actually a blessing in disguise. While we could easily rush through the game as soon as the servers go live and have a verdict up within 24 hours, that's not what we're going to do.
It's no exaggeration to say that the PC reviews of Crimson Desert are largely split and divided. Some people love it, some people hate it. Fair enough. But basing the review on just a few hours of playtime without barely scratching the surface or completing the story? That's not our style.
Instead, we will be taking our time to dissect Crimson Desert from top to bottom, we will be completing the main story, and we will ensure the game is given a fair verdict based on a thorough, rigorous playthrough.
The sheer scale and depth of Crimson Desert is unlike anything we've seen before, so it's only right that we peel it back layer by layer and uncover everything it has to offer.
That's not to say we won't be covering the game at all. In the meantime, we will of course still be providing useful guides and tips to aid players on their journey throughout Pywel, as well as detailed and honest analysis of Crimson Desert's performance on the base PS5.
It would have been great to have provided you with comprehensive coverage as soon as the review embargo was lifted, but we are where we are, and hope you understand why we'll be taking our time with the game before sharing any thoughts and impressions.
As a teaser for what's to come, why not check out the Crimson Desert preview I got hands-on with last year?
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